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Sunday, December 9, 2012

So maybe you've noticed I haven't been posting as much? Not too many reviews? Not to many ramblings about my confusion in the writer's world?

1. I'm pregnant and people were not kidding when they said I would be tired.
2. NaNo kind of burned me out.
3. I've been editing volume 2.
4. I started volume 3 - not going so hot.
5. I'm really going to focus on turning this into an author's blog - so a lot less reviews unless I feel I hit a land mine.

BETA readers - I heart Beta readers, especially mine.

Recently, Komal and Joe read volume 2. Komal got done with it in a few weeks and Joe got done at the beginning of this month. I had never given a manuscript to two people at once. Normally, I give it to one, edit, give it to someone else, edit, give it to someone else, edit, etc. It was the first time the same manuscript went to two people. I was insistent on waiting for both to be completed to edit, for simple tracking reasons. If Komal found a major error and I fixed it five or six spots, that would throw all of Joe's edits off. So I waited.

I have mixed feelings about two beta readers and the same manuscript. While it was a great feeling when I would flip through multiple pages with no edits, or they picked up on the same thing, reaffirming a need for a change - I kept wondering, if I had let one do it first, would the second have picked up on something else. You love and cherish your beta readers, you don't abuse them, and have them constantly re-reading your work.

Ashton Summers is on her way to becoming the most popular girl in
school and nothing—or no one—is going to stand in her way.
Especially not Luca Byron, her freak neighbor, with his tattoos, loud
music, and distracting green eyes.
Luca Byron has three goals in life: get through high school with a low profile, make sure his garage band becomes something more than a hobby, and try to forget about his insufferable ex-best friend, Ashton, who he can’t get out of his mind.

The last thing Ashton and Luca want to do is rekindle their friendship, but when Ashton takes a tumble down the social ladder, Luca—with his new makeover—is the only one who can help her rise up again by pretending to be her boyfriend. At first, being together is unbearable and annoying, but things start to change as Ashton and Luca discover the real reasons they drifted apart seven years ago.

Now, keeping their hands off each other seems impossible.

For a little Author Bio:

Komal Lewis is an author who writes both Young Adult and Adult novels in the Contemporary and Fantasy genres. Her debut novel IMPOSSIBLE is a Young Adult Contemporary Romance about a girl who will do anything to become popular, and the rocker boy-next-door.

Komal lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and one too many dogs and cats (although she never seems to think they have enough). She is overly enthusiastic about video games, comic books, Batman films, Byronic heroes, baking, reptiles, and pretty shoes.

I also got Komal to do a playlist for her characters - a different type of top ten. Here's what she had to say.

When I first started putting together this post, I only
had two songs on the list. I had NO idea what kind of songs to pick so I
recruited my husband to help me (I’m supposed to pay him for his help though!)
and we actually came up with a fairly long list. I managed to narrow it down
and this is what I was left with. I hope you enjoy!

Luca Byron

With Me by Sum 41 – I
listened to this song non-stop for two months while writing Impossible! It
actually became a bigger inspiration than the movie, Drive Me Crazy, was. When I hear this song, it reminds me so much of
Luca.

Creep by Radiohead –
Luca is a social outcast so I thought Creep
perfectly described his social position.

Memory by Sugarcult – I
think this describes his situation with Ashton really well. Their relationship
is based on their memories of growing up together.

Ashton Summers

Best of Me by The Starting
Line – I love, love this song and I was lucky enough to see The Startling Line
perform live last year. I think it suits Ashton and Luca’s relationship really
well and how they got older and grew up to be different people, but aren’t
ready to give up on each other just yet.

One Way or
Another by Blondie – If you’ve read Impossible
then you already know how ruthless Ashton is. There’s nothing this girl won’t
do to get what she wants.

The Kill by 30 Seconds
to Mars – This song describes the way Ashton was feeling at Kendall’s party.

Eddie Cavallari

Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus –
You would think that this song is perfect for Luca, right? Well, the reason why
this song is better-suited for Eddie will begin to make a lot more sense in Falling for Hadie.

Stacey Parker

She’s a Rebel by Green Day –
You only have to read the title to realize what kind of a girl Stacey is. She
doesn’t take crap from anyone.

Riley Adamson

Fat Lip by Sum 41 –
This is a fun, upbeat, crazy kind of song which is exactly what Riley’s
personality is like.

Kance Logan

Stupid Girls by Pink – Kance
(and even Ashton) is one of the “stupid girls” described in this song.

Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Michelle! You
are the best! J

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About Me

A reader. A writer. An English teacher. A dog lover. A music lover. A laugher. Me in a nut shell. I recently self-published my first novel: The Owens Legacy: Revelations and working on the sequel. And while doing that I am distracting myself with anything YA.